Song of the Week Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

[umbjisfhinefum]

Man such an awesome song and although its actually a bitter breakup song its actually been apart of some good times in my life. It was my graduation song in high school and it finished one of the best nights I ever had seeing them live in SAN JOSE.

that show was the greatest night of my entire life.

when i went to the gd show in LA for the filming of the new years eve thing, they didn't play this song. and as i was walking away i was like, "this show isn't over."

this song can apply to so many different events in so many different people's life. i really love this song...and although i find it extremely, painfully difficult to choose a favorite green day song, this just might be it.

[Sharmellow]

I remember when he played this song at the Green Day concert back in July. It was as if timed slowed down a notch while he sang it with such a beautiful voice, full of emotion and almost a sadness. I had tears in my eyes. While watching the video my sister recorded, as awesome as the video was, it's not the same as in person of course. This is such a lovely song, although, I have to admit it is a little overplayed. I also think that this song is definitely, definitely played better live than the recording/studio version.

[Dylan.]

This song is just...it means the world to me. And...it was the first song I ever learned on guitar and...it just is everything to me.

[alaniluau]

Good Riddance has cemented itself into immortality. I'm pretty sure that decades from now, this will still be the perfect graduation song. It's one of those timeless things that will never go out of style, just like the band in general. Also, Good Riddance is one of those songs that everyone knows, and most everyone likes.

It's helped me through a few rough points in my life. The lyrics are so deep and thoughtful. Good Riddance will always be a masterpiece in my mind.

I can't relate to having it as the last song at a show. My only Green Day concert was in Sacramento this year. I cried through Good Riddance of course and I remember Billie playing the last chord and I thought "wow, that was it". But of course, we then heard the intro to Pasalacqua.

[sampy]

Absolutely brilliant. One of the greatest. It's sweet, soft and acoustic and still pure Green Day and one of their greatest and famest songs, and very very suitable for non-Green Day fans! Easy to listen and those lyrics makes some personal thoughts with every listener, I think. Great great great.

[Mar]

I remember when he played this song at the Green Day concert back in July. It was as if timed slowed down a notch while he sang it with such a beautiful voice, full of emotion and almost a sadness.

That's how I feel, too. It certainly wasn't the longest song at the show, but it just felt as though it lasted forever, it was just such a bittersweet moment, and I'm glad it was that way, and I was able to absorb the song.

[ANJI]

Awesome choice for SOTW!! It's one of the best acoustic songs by Green Day...got a lot of emotion and feeling to it

[Guitar4Girl]

It has to be one of my favourite songs by them. It's even better in concert because you can hear how Billie sings it with so much emotion.

[elisa]

i love this song so much. (duh)

even my mum loves it haha the other day she was like 'whats the name of that green day song i like.. the one which goes *sings*' bless her.

anyways.

i cried during this song at both shows. you cant even describe how you feel when billie joe is playing it acoustic in front of you.

you feel 'part of it'

[bjrules]

This is definitely one of Green Day's best songs of all time. The lyrics are so perfect, they fit with the song perfectly. It was sad in concert, since it was the last song and when Billie was playing it I was like "Oh no its nearly over..." I was so sad

[**She**]

Great choice!

I love the two posted performances. I have never seen the first one and I wonder what Bille Joe is thinking at 2.35 - 2.42. The look on his face is kind of special, I think.

The second one is just epic. I watched it so many times before and I still enjoy it, even though I still wonder about myself because I think Billie is so adorable and I normally don't think that drunk guys are admirable.

I think it's the perfect song choice to end their concerts. Like other people already said, it's a very special feeling if Billie starts singing it as the encore. Especially if you are in the first row at the walkway (like I was in Hamburg) I just love his voice in this one (but I could say that for almost every song, I guess...)

I also love the lyrics, they are very poetic. I wanted to pick my favorite lines from this song and post them here but then I reaslised that it would be almost the whole song. So I don't do it.

A lot of people use this as their wedding song. Do you think it really fits as a wedding song?

I am not sure. I think some couples with a special background can associate their relationship with this song but there might be some people who just hear the "time of your life" bit in the chorus and think it fits.

[Smoothed Out]

surprisingly i didn't cry during this song at my show. but it definitely brings a bittersweet feeling. such an amazing song to end an amazing night with.

Yeah, your happy to be there listening to it but at the same time don't want to be because it's the end of the show. One of my all time favourites that I'm sure will go down in history, and very appropriate for ending a year on. You've either had the Time of your Life or your saying Good Riddance!

For some reason I'm stuck for words about this song, apart from bloody amazing

[Allie90]

This song is simply great! I love it sooo much, it is definitely one of my favorites.

I have always been wondering what "dead skin on trial" means here. Can anyone please explain it to me??? :wink:

[Leisha-LUNA]

I can't listen to this song since the last melbourne show I cry too much. it kicks my PCD into overdrive.

I remember when they started playing it that last time, I was standing there, gripping the barrier to keep my self upright just thinking "no no no no it cant be over yet" and just bawling my eyes out.

This song is too perfect

[billie-joe-geek72]

Such a perfect song, good choice.

[watsername182]

Went bowling yesterday and when I walked in this was playing on the projectors and jukebox thingy.

I find it funny that this song was released when my sister graduated and nearly ten years later they played it at my various graduations.

It's such an amazing song. Beautifully written, though the vast majority of people still don't realise what it's really about.

It was the first song I learned how to play on the guitar (and basically the only song I know how to play still).

The live version Billie plays now is absolutely beautiful.

I still can't believe he was playing this song basically only a metre away from me last month.

[Juliette]

I love this song.

And I love how Billie always seems a bit shocked when he plays it that the show is actually over.

[Opezi]

I remember when he played this song at the Green Day concert back in July. It was as if timed slowed down a notch while he sang it with such a beautiful voice, full of emotion and almost a sadness. I had tears in my eyes.

ya same here it was like i was thinking back to what an awesome concert it was and how i didnt want it to end abd how somehow i heard billies voice over everyone else's who was singing over him. love this song <3333333

[Ingrid]

I love this song in itself, but the fact that it's the closing song for most of their concerts just adds so much depth to it, in my opinion.

Hearing this song is always a special moment, because of what it reminds me of, and it's sad but in a good kind of way.

I can very vividly remember looking to my left to see the side/back of Billie Joe when he was out on the catwalk performing this - I remember being almost relieved that he wasn't right in front of me, because then I got a quiet moment to myself to just stand there reflecting, with tears streaming down my face, haha. Don't know why but I think I'd have a problem with crying right in front of him. Probably would be freaking out too much.

And I'd already been crying all the way through Last Night on Earth, so... <3

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

Lovely song. It's a great ending of a show. Just ... well yeah, great. I didn't cry, though. too omg to cry xD

And I basically agree with pretty much everything said so far, I just fail at putting my feelings into words.

And I love the performances posted Although I still don't know what that Bridge School Acoustic Event thing is =|

And I really like the alternate ending of the song in my sig.

yes I know it sounds sorta bad but I love it anyway <3

[sharon mitchell]

The way he sung it in Phoenix beats every other time I heard it. That song is sheer emotional perfection.

[cherylr]

Great song. It was so different than the rest of their collection when it came out. I loved hearing it in concert. It's a great "moving on" song. It came on the radio the morning I took my younger daughter to her last day of elementary school and it made me cry. It was so perfect for the last time I'd go to the school I had had kids in for 10 years. Hearing that song that morning was a great trigger to let me get my emotions out.

[Anja]

This was basically the song that got me into Green Day. It wasn't the first song I heard of them but it made me decide to buy "Bullet in a bible" and well, the rest is history... It's just a perfect song, for many occassions and I remember listening to it on repeat for hours on my headphones after Biab came out. I simultaneously cried tears of sadness because the song made me feel sentimental and tears of happiness because I felt like I had discovered the most perfect song for me. It's an inspiring song as well. Great choice

[Tubbie Head]

"I love this song" isn't even enought for me to say, I don't have words to describe it!

I can never tell which song I like the best, but, this song is just more than amazing, more than a green day classic, it means so much to me, and now that I heard Good Riddance live, the love got even higher! *.*

It's such an amazing song live, Billie playing the acoustic guitar with that sweet sound (much different from the cd version), and then leaving the stage without saying anything else.. Ending the show with that last line: "I hope you had the time of your life" It was memorable...

Tears always drop when I hear it now...

The song is perfect in every way that is possible

This song is simply great! I love it sooo much, it is definitely one of my favorites.

I have always been wondering what "dead skin on trial" means here. Can anyone please explain it to me??? :wink:

I interpret that line as the time passing by, basically getting older, creating memories at the same time (refering to the part just before)...

[Miss Hedgie]

At the end of my show I felt very sad when he started it up. Firstly it was my first time hearing it EVER LIVE, then I knew it was the end of the show. :/

But I love this song. Though it gets on my nerves when people think its a happy song. I'm like read the title..."Good Riddance."